Ashley Cole: Jack Wilshere will learn from smoking mistakes

Ashley Cole has urged Jack Wilshere to stop smoking after the Arsenal midfielder was pictured with a cigarette in a Las Vagas pool this week.

Pictures emerged in the media showing the 22-year-old smoking in a swimming pool with friends.

He is a young lad and he will learn

Ashley Cole

And former England defender Cole, who admits to having smoked earlier in his career, says Wilshere has a responsibility to set an example to others and should eradicate the habit.

“Everyone talks about footballers having to be professional and be an example, but we don’t know if the smoking affects him,” Cole is quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.

“Of course I am not condoning smoking. We don’t want smoking. I have smoked before, I have stopped.

Jack Wilshere pictured smoking. pic.twitter.com/sUmTmpwys2

— Arsenal FC (@FFArsenal) July 14, 2014

“It didn’t really affect me the way I run but of course it’s not a good thing to do in public. But he is a young lad and he will learn.

“I don’t think it is up to me to tell anyone what to do.

“I am not going to give him advice on how to behave. It is down to him to sort out.”